I can't remember the names of the actors. One was Gary Sinise. Another is The Last Days of Mars with Liev Schreiber. Both great movies.
One of my coins has the typical depiction of Mars, a strutting warrior: DOMITIAN 69 - 81 AD. AE Sestertius (26.88 g.) Thrace 80-81 AD RIC 509 Titus CAES DIVI AVG VESP F DOMITIANVS COS VII, laureate head right / S C across field, Mars walking right, holding spear in right hand, trophy over left shoulder While the other one, where Mars is supposed to be holding Victory (but a weak strike and wear have eliminated all evidence of her) looks more as if Mars is asking for a donation: VITELLIUS 69 A.D. AE Sestertius (29.74 g.) Rome Apr. - Dec. 69 A.D. RIC 115 A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP AVG P M TR P Laureate and draped bust r. Rev. MARS VICTOR S – C Mars, helmeted and in military dress, striding l., holding Victory in r. hand, parazonium at side and trophy over l. shoulder.
Gordian III, 238-244 AD. AR Antoninianus (25x21m; 4.63 gm; 6h). Antioch mint, 243-244 AD. Obv: Radiate and cuirassed bust right. Rev: MARTI PACIFERO. Mars, portraying an era of peace, running left holding olive branch before him in right hand and reversed spear (point between legs) and shield in his left hand. RIC IV, 212; RSC 162a.
Small part of the Cydonia region of Mars, taken by the Viking 1 orbiter and released by NASA/JPL on July 25, 1976. Thrace, Philippopolis. Domitian AE24. Ares Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIIII CENS PERP P, radiate head right. Rev: ΦIΛIΠΠOΠOΛITΩN, Ares, in full armor, stg. l. with shield at his feet.
I loved Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. (I've always been a big fan of Bradbury's in general). I know they made a movie -- or perhaps a TV miniseries? -- out of it, but never saw it and don't know if it was any good. Here's my favorite Mars -- my cast bronze figurine of Mars Ultor, 2nd-3rd Century AD, based on the statue at Rome. Bearded face, military garb, crested helmet, cuirass, greaves, etc. Spear and sword lost in antiquity. Height: 60 mm. (2 3/8"). Ex: CNG, Sale 75, Lot 1514, May 23, 2007. And here's my favorite Mars coin: Hostilian Caesar (son of Trajan Decius), AR Antoninianus, 251 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C / Rev. Mars advancing right, holding spear in right hand and shield in left, MARTI PROPVGNATORI. RIC IV-3 177b, RSC IV 15, Sear RCV III 9556 (ill.). 22 mm., 3.65 g.
MAXIMINUS II (310-313) As Caesar (305-308) FOLLIS - MKV Cyzicus, 308 6.92 g - 26 mm S 14796 - C 211 - RIC VI 49 GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB C, Laureate head right VIRTVTI EXERCITVS, Mars advancing right